Water sport device



Feb. 25, 1947. J. o. DE CHAPPEDELAINE l2,415,471

WATER SPORT DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1944 FIGl i- FIIG. 2

Inventor: WMA @ma Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED STATES PM'ENT OFFICE WATER sPoRT DEVICE Jean Olivier de Chappedelaine, Reading, Pa.

Applicatiun August 15, 1944, serial No. 549,585

2` Claims.

My invention relates to an apparatus actuated by hands and which can be used in water sport and as life saver. This device gives everybody the possibility to remain afloat for a long time and move rapidly over the surface of the water even if unable to swim. Another feature of my invention is to provide for a lifek saver apparatus in case, for instance, of shipwreck, because my device not only can be used as a life buoy, but also as a means to reach a relatively distant sho-re or a life boat. One other advantage'of my device is that the motion required to actuate it is instinctive, so that even a child is able spontaneously to use it.

As a water sport game, the cyclic movement of the hands may be combined, if desired, with the motion of the legs in the crawl and my app-aratus may also be used to learn more easily to swim.

Another advantage of my device is that it takes very little room when not in operation.

I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section of the entire apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing the shape of one float.

Referring to the drawings as an example of my water sport device, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made without changing the fundamental principle of the invention. For instance, the general shape of the float may be generally cylindrical with a sinuous periphery, the number of spurs may be inferior or superior to six.

My invention is essentially composed of a f crankshaft I fitted with two handles 2 and 3 able to revolve freely around the crankpins 4 and 5 of the crankshaft. On the crankshaft I which can be made, for instance, of light metal tubing, are fastened four plates 6, 1, 8, and 9. A bag or float I0 is mounted between the plates 6 and 'I and solidly bonded to them and one other bag or float Il is mounted between the plates 8 and 9 and also solidly bonded to them. The floats |0 and I I are made of suitable flexible, air-tight and waterproof material such as rubber, rubberized fabric or flexible plastic, and are each provided with air valves I2 and I3 passing respectively Y through thej plates 6 and 9. 'I'hese valves permit inflationV of the float with air, either with the mouth or musing a little hand pump. The air' pressure shall be sufficient to secure the rigidity of the floats. The shape of the floats, when lnflated, is shown in Fig. 2 and is like a cylinder d 2 provided with a number of spurs I4. To increase the safetyY of the device, each float may be puncture proof in using a suitable prod-uct poured in it. One other safety means which can be provided is to fasten to one handle a string which can be attached to the wrist of the swimmer, so that, in case of crampr or syncope, the body of the swimmer is always supported by the floats and does not sink or disappear under the Water, thus facilitating a successful rescue..

The working o-f my water sport device is the following:

Lying face downward in the water, both arms' and legs extended, the swimmer holds the handles and can easily maintain himself afloat, supported by the flo-ats which are of such a volume that they are only half-way under water. When the swimmer wishes to move on the water, he actu,- ates the crankshaft with his hands, forcing the floats to turn and to roll on the water. The floats which are provided with spurs push back the water and carry along the swimmer.

I claim:

1. A water sport and life-saving device, comprising in combination a pair of similarly shaped inflatable floats, each of said floats including spaced Walls, the peripheries ofwhich are of sinuous form, a cover of like configuration connecting said walls, and means rigidly connecting said floats in spaced apart relation, vcomprising a crankshaft having apair of hand-grips rotatably mounted thereon.

2. A device of the character as set forth in claim 1 in which each of the wallsof the inflatable floats has a reinforcing plate through which the crankshaft passes so as to maintain the shape of the floats and their positions on said crankshaft.

JEAN OLIVIER DE CHAPPEDELAINE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES rPATENTS 

